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Need your input on a new chain saw

As already mentioned, the decompression feature can't be retrofitted. I have two saws that have the decompression button, and one that doesn't. I can barely pull the handle of my Husqvarna 394XP without the button in. The stihl 361 is barely any different at all with or without the button.

If the saw is harder to start now than when you bought it, something is wrong. If you don't already do it, you need to make sure that you're greasing the crankshaft bearings when you use it; I know a few folks that I've never seen grease theirs.--I don't know if its the same on your saws, but on mine, there's a grease fitting on the shaft itself, on both the starter side and the clutch/drive spur side. I run a little more oil in my gas on the 394XP than is recommended, mostly because I often mill lumber with it. I run about 40:1 instead of 50:1 gas/oil mix. When you're using a saw for long periods of time at wide open throttle, it is more stressful on the saw, which is usually meant to cut for a few seconds, then idle, cut, idle, etc. A little extra oil in the mix can't hurt. Most homeowner saws weren't meant to run at full rpm for minutes at a time, which is what a lot of turners need to do to cut big blanks, and most have smaller saws, stihl, husky, or whatever brand. Every mfr. has "homeowner grade" and "pro grade". Thats why there's so much difference in price between certain stihl or husqvarna models that seem on paper to have very similar if not exact specifications. I run my saws a lot, and two do happen to be professional saws, and were very expensive, so I want them to run for as long as possible. The extra oil is a little insurance; its not fun to breathe in, but its a lot better for the saw if you run it this way frequently. It's easy to burn out a saw by not having enough oil in the mix, and running it hard. The rings scratch the cylinder & can become seized, or if water gets into an iron cylinder, etc.

I hope your saw doesn't have something serious wrong with it. I know that's gonna hurt the wallet to fix, or replace!
 
hard starting chain saw

Thanks for the info Nate. My 280 had the problem from the get go. Some days I must be stronger than other and don't have the problem. Once it's started there is no problem after. I think the fix it place got rid of carbon too, which I think is a usual "tune" up thing to do-along with replacing the cord, Have only used it once since "fixed" _ I usually don't use in the winter, but when we had wind in January I had a large branch go down in the back yard-too big for handsawing. Hope more don;t go down as I currently have 25-45 MPH winds after alot of rain, Gretch
 
My Stihl 361 doesn't like to start either. The decompression valve works just fine but the carburetor floods easily. Here's what works for me. Two pulls on full choke. Four pulls with no choke. If it hasn't started after six pulls I walk away from it for a minute or two and try again with no choke and it usually starts by the second or third pull.
Be well.
Ed
 
Ed,
That's pretty much the way I attempt to start my 390. Most of the time it works fine. It's just pulling the cord that's hard.

Nate,
I've never done any servicing except bringing it to shops to try and make it start easier. I've been thinking of taking it completely apart and cleaning every single piece, greasing it up then trying it again.

Thanks for that tip,
Burt
 
Stihl MS 361

Get the 361 and don't look back! The Stihl's have a certain starting regimen depending on which one you get. If you follow the recommended starting regimen it will start on the 2nd pull every time when it is cold, then on the first pull when warm-the starting routine will be different depending on which saw you have-google is your friend.
 
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